Nearby Words
noun
1.
the outer face, outside, or exterior boundary of a thing; outermost or uppermost layer or area.
2.
any face of a body or thing: the six surfaces of a cube.
3.
extent or area of outer face; superficial area.
4.
the outward appearance, especially as distinguished from the inner nature: to look below the surface of a matter.
5.
EXPANDGeometry. any figure having only two dimensions; part or all of the boundary of a solid.
6.
land or sea transportation, rather than air, underground, or undersea transportation.
7.
COLLAPSEAeronautics. an airfoil.
adjective
8.
of, on, or pertaining to the surface; external.
9.
apparent rather than real; superficial: to be guilty of surface judgments.
10.
of, pertaining to, or via land or sea: surface mail.
11.
Linguistics. belonging to a late stage in the transformational derivation of a sentence; belonging to the surface structure.
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Surfaces
is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
verb (used with object)
12.
to finish the surface of; give a particular kind of surface to; make even or smooth.
13.
to bring to the surface; cause to appear openly: Depth charges surfaced the sub. So far we've surfaced no applicants.
verb (used without object)
14.
to rise to the surface: The submarine surfaced after four days.
15.
to work on or at the surface.
Origin:
1605–15; < French, equivalent to sur- sur-1 + face face, apparently modeled on Latin superficies superficies
1605–15; < French, equivalent to sur- sur-1 + face face, apparently modeled on Latin superficies superficies
Related forms
sur·face·less, adjective
sur·fac·er, noun
non·sur·face, noun, adjective
un·sur·faced, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To Surfaces
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
surface
1611, from Fr. surface "outermost boundary of anything, outside part" (16c.), from O.Fr. sur- "above" + face (see face). Patterned on L. superficies "surface" (see superficial). The verb meaning "come to the surface" is first recorded 1898;
EXPANDearlier it meant "bring to the surface" (1885), and "to give something a polished surface" (1778).
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
surface sur·face (sûr'fəs)
n.
The outer or topmost part of a solid structure.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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